Research & Reports
In Recent Filings, Prudential Follows the Flow of Industry Product Trends
Variable annuity insurers are steadily migrating towards simpler contracts and risk-sensitive solutions, and lately Prudential has become one of the latest to weigh in on this front, with some filings that follow emerging patterns…
Concerning Directions in the Annuity Business in Late 2013
It's our opinion that the annuity business in the U.S. is showing signs of becoming more balanced in terms of its product offerings and sales practices. Some of this process of change is happening partly...
Earnings Held Up for Insurers in Q3 – But VA Sales? Not So Much
It seems to us that most variable annuity insurers fared well this third quarter from an earnings standpoint, helped by a rise in the stock market. However VA sales were down for the group of...
Principal Financial to Offer a GLWB Exchange Program – Not a Buyback
It’s our opinion that vintage variable annuity benefits remain problematic for quite a few insurers, and we expect more de-risking measures to be taken over time. Last week Principal Financial filed a program that will...
Jackson National Moves to Limit 1035s Over the Remainder of This Year
Last Tuesday Jackson National sent a letter to financial advisors announcing the temporary suspension of 1035 exchanges and qualified transfers of assets into three variable annuity contract suites effective October 25. In this commentary we’ll...
Recent Revelations – Regarding VA Insurers’ Planned Product Changes
In this report we won’t be commenting on much in the way of brand-new developments on the variable annuity scene, rather we have some interesting nuances from product filings to share with you…
Prudential Files Another Update to its Highest Daily Lifetime Income Rider
Last Friday Prudential filed a new version of its leading variable annuity lifetime withdrawal benefit, Highest Daily Lifetime Income, and we have to assume that reductions will be made as compared to the current version,...
It’s Out With the Old, In With the New – as Annuity Insurers Enter Autumn
If we were asked to describe how the autumn season is shaping up for the annuity industry so far, we’d say that it’s a time when insurers are following through with new ideas and steadily...
Jackson National Upgrades its VA Riders – a Counterintuitive Move?
Last week Jackson National sent out a field release that confirmed the company will be following through with variable annuity product changes – including some enhancements – which it filed earlier in the year. In...